Originator

QUESTION / CLARIFICATION
Ref: 1010-01
CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN NOTIFIED BODIES
DIRECTIVES 96/48/EC AND 2001/16/EC ON THE INTEROPERABILITY OF THE TRANS-EUROPEAN HIGH-SPEED DEFINITION OF THE TERM „LONG TUNNEL“ ORIGINATOR
SUBJECT RELATED TO
DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND EXPLANATION
The chapter 4.2.3.1.3 of INS TSI contains requirements for “long tunnels”. Further it is
explained, that “in the absence of active Community provisions, the applicable legislation
shall be that defined by each Member State on whose territory the infrastructure project
proceeds, or by an agreement between the Member States concerned in the case of an
international project.”
In chapter 4.2.3.2.4 (“Lateral space for passengers in the event of detrainment outside of
a station”), chapter 4.2.3.1.3 is referenced with the term “very long tunnels”.
Chapter 4.3.3.6 (“Works below ground level such as tunnels and cut-and-covers”)
mentions “very short” and “very long tunnels”
Problem
In lack of European regulations national regulations for tunnel safety have to be applied. These national regulations differ in many ways, especially in the definition of tunnels (very short, short, long, very long tunnels). National definitions of tunnel length, e.g.: length of tunnel: 1.000 to 15.000m Æ “long tunnel” If an interoperable train is run in cross-border operation, there’s the possibility that this train runs through tunnels of similar length, to which totally different national safety regulations have been applied. In one tunnel there are special means for e. g. evacuation, in the next one there are none, although the tunnels may have both the same length. This could lead to confusion and problems in case of an emergency. In addition, the term “very long tunnel” is used in the same meaning as “long tunnel” in the HS INS TSI. There are differences in the meaning of these terms in the national regulations (see above). QUESTION & CLARIFICATION
QUESTION / CLARIFICATION
Ref: 1010-01
CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN NOTIFIED BODIES
DIRECTIVES 96/48/EC AND 2001/16/EC ON THE INTEROPERABILITY OF THE TRANS-EUROPEAN HIGH-SPEED SUGGESTED RESOLUTION / INTERPRETATION
The meaning of the term “long tunnel” shall be clearly defined. With this there is a clear criteria when a safety concept has to be available for a tunnel. Furthermore, it would be easier for the NBs, to apply the appropriate rules from the national regulations for tunnel safety. ORGANISATION(S) REQUESTED TO RESPOND (E.G. TSI GROUP, A21C, AEIF ETC.)
DATE OF AGREEMENT AT NB RAIL PLENARY MEETING
RESPONSE FROM ORGANISATION ABOVE
Conclusion of item 8.1.10 in MoM of plenary meeting no. 14: QC 1010-01-01 has been fed into the new revision of the HS TSI’s. AEIF removed confusing terminology and replaced it by specific lengths of tunnels e.g tunnel <10000m. However there is still reference to long tunnel in revised RS TSI’s. AEIF indicates that inconsistencies will eventually be corrected across all TSI’s. Thus the originator Luxcontrol Nederland agrees that this QC is put into the category “answered”. QUESTION & CLARIFICATION

Source: http://www.arsenalrace.at/tsi/nbrail/QC/QC%201010-01%20Definition%20of%20the%20Term%20Long%20Tunnel.pdf